They also have a solid crop of homegrown pitchers headed off by Matusz. Will be a fun team to watch or keep tabs on this year.

Absolutely... also, although they add Reynolds at 3B, their defensive infield is really improved with Hardy and Lee at SS and 1B.

At least they are making things interesting in the AL East and for Baltimore fans.

Fenway

02-05-2011, 12:53 AM

Great trade fodder there come July!!!

:D:

Lip

Good call Lip

Balto has just vanished from the baseball radar. The AL East is a beast ( no division in MLB comes close) as far as local TV revenue is concerned.

Tampa Bay tried soooooo hard and did well - but now they have to reset - Toronto really has not been a factor since the strike.

What really burns me is Chicago people complaining about Boston spending....well when you in same division as NYY you gotta do what you gotta do.

But the demise of the Orioles is just sad...

DirtySox

02-05-2011, 12:56 AM

Tampa Bay tried soooooo hard and did well - but now they have to reset - Toronto really has not been a factor since the strike.

Tampa might be "resetting" but myself and many others have them legitimately in the hunt in that division. I have them slightly ahead of the Yankees for the WC. Largely because of their rotation.

Fenway

02-05-2011, 01:14 AM

Tampa might be "resetting" but myself and many others have them legitimately in the hunt in that division. I have them slightly ahead of the Yankees for the WC. Largely because of their rotation.

I agree with you...

IF Manny is healthy he could be a terror at the Trop...

Boston on paper appears to be loaded...but gonfolans are not won in February -

DumpJerry

02-05-2011, 01:25 AM

But the demise of the Orioles is just sad...
I would agree, except I keep coming back to this (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA198310080.shtml). The win probability chart is heartbreaking from the 7th-9th innings.

Foulke You

02-05-2011, 02:15 AM

Great trade fodder there come July!!!

:D:

Lip
You mean the great Buck Showalter won't lead them to the promised land??! :tongue:

Foulke You

02-05-2011, 02:28 AM

I don't expect the O's to contend for the division or anything, but they could potentially have a real potent offense.

They also have a solid crop of homegrown pitchers headed off by Matusz. Will be a fun team to watch or keep tabs on this year.
It should be an entertaining lineup for Orioles fans and I have no doubt they will hit the ball out of the yard quite a bit but they are also going to strike out a lot. Reynolds, Lee, Jones, and Scott should be good for a combined 550-600 strikeouts alone. In Camden Yards though, a HR offense could benefit them. They would need a 2006 Detroit Tigers or 2008 TB Rays type transformation of their starting rotation to have a chance to contend. It's not impossible but I wouldn't bet on it.

Fenway

02-05-2011, 08:29 AM

I would agree, except I keep coming back to this (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA198310080.shtml). The win probability chart is heartbreaking from the 7th-9th innings.

You know what Yogi says - It ain't over til it's ovah (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610250.shtml)